Improvement in apparatus for stringing and tuning piano-fortes



G, E. ROGERS &. A. E. MANNING.

Apparatusflr Stringing and Tuning Piano -Fortes.

N0,]56,674, Patented Nov. 10,1874.

Z7 i 2M1 5 27. I ma THE GRAPHIC CD.PHOTO'LITH.39I14I PARK PLACE NN.

UNITED STATES PATENT Orr-Ion.

CHARLES E. ROGERS AND ALBERT E. MANNING, OF BOSTON, MASS, ASSIGN- ORS TO THEMSELVES AND ALFRED F. ROGERS, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT lN APPARA US FOR STRINGING AND TUNING PIANO-FORTES.

Specification formingpart of Letters Patent No. 156,674, dated Noveznbrr 10,1874; application filed August 25, 1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, CHARLES E. Roenns and ALBERT E. MANNING, both of Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massaclut setts, have invented certain Devices for Tuning Pianos, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification, in which Figure l is a perspective view, representing the string-plate of an upright piano with our improved tuning devices applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section through the same. Fig.3 is a perspective view, illustrating the subject of our invention, enlarged; Fi 4, modification of the same.

In the ordinary practice of tuning pianos it has been customary to drive a metal tuningpin into a wooden pin-block, which is objectionable, for the reason that the changes in the atmosphere from dry to humid, or vice versa, cause the wooden block to contract and expand, the strings oftentimes becoming so slack as to require frequent retunin To overcome the above-mentioned difliculty is the object of our invention which consists in the employment of a set-screw for changing the inclination of the tuning-pin, to which the outer end of the string is secured, which thus increases the effective distance of this pin from the stationary, to which the inner end of the string is secured, whereby, should any string become slack it may be tightened, in a ready and convenient manner, by simply turning the set-screw connected therewith, as hereinafter more fully set forth. Our invention also consists in one or more levers, applied directly or indirectly to a string-frame of metal or other material not affected by moisture, in combination with a set-screw for changing the position of the outer or tuning pin with respect to the stationary or inner pin, between which the string extends, each tuning-pin being seated in one of the levers, and the latter being inclined, more or less, by the turning of the setscrew, in such manner that the outer or tuning pin is made to recede slightly from the inner or stationary pin, which causes the slackness of the string to be taken up as required, thus avoiding the necessity of frequent retunin g, as heretofore.

To enable others skilled in the art to understand and use our invention, we will proceed to describe the manner in which we have carried it out.

In the said drawings, A represents the metal frame of an upright piano, to the front of which the soumling-board (not shown) is intended to be secured. The frame is made open at and near its center; and is provided with cross-bars a, cast in one and the same piece therewith, which serve as braces to strengthen it, the upper or projecting portion of the frame being inclined at a slight angle thereto. 0 is the bass-bridge, and d the treble-bridge, over which the strings e f g are conducted from stationary pins h projecting out from the back of the frame A. B is a lever, of the form seen, hooked over the upper or inclined edge I) of the string-frame, being held in place thereon, by a bent portion, 8, in such manner that it is free to be tipped or inclined by turning a setscrew, 6, which passes through its lower portion 9, the point of 'the set-screw bearing on the string-frame. Extending out from the front of the lever B, at or near its center, is a projection, 10, into which is placed a tuningpin, 70, through the head of which is formed a hole for the passage of the outer end of one of the strings or wires which is wound around the head of the pin, the latter being provided with a projection at or near its lower end, to prevent it from turning within the lever B.

When the string of the pin 70 becomes slack and requires tightening, it is simply necessary to turn the set-screw t down upon the string-frame b, which operation causes the lower portion 9 of the lever B to recede therefrom, and the head of the pin 70 in the projection 10 to move or incline back toward avertical position, thus increasing the distance between the points where the ends of the string are secured, and drawing it tight, as required.

Where there are three strings to a note, as represented in the drawing, two other smaller levers, (J D, are pivoted to the lever B on opposite sides (above and below) of its projection 10, the lower end of the upper lever C bein g pivoted thereto at Z, and the upper end of the lower lever D being provided with a projection, m, fitting into a groove of corresponding form in the upper end of the lower portionl) of the lever B. The upper portion 11 of the lever B is bent over at a, so as to project in front of the upper end of the upper smaller lever (J, and through this bent portion it passes a set-screw, 1), having its point bearin g against the upper end of the lever 0. Into the lower end of the lever 0 passes a tuning-pin, r, to and around which is secured one end of the string f. This pin f is of similar construction to the pin k, and is tipped or inclined toward the back, to tighten its string by turning the set-screw down 011 the upper end of the lever 0. Into the upper end of the leverD passes a tuning-pin, s, to and around which is secured a string, g, which, when slack, can readily be tightened by turning the setscrew t which passes through the lower end of the lever D, and bears against the upper su'rfaee of the lower portion 9 of the lever B.

here the note-for instance, a bass-noterequires but one string, the lovers G D, with their tuning-pins r and s, and set-serews 1 and I, may be dispensed with, and only the lever B, with its tuning-pin k and set-screw i,be retained, in which case the upper portion 11 of the lever may also be dispensed with; and, if the note is one of two strings, the upper lever (J, with its tuning-pin r and set-screw 1;, to-

gether with the upper portion 11 of the lever 13, may be dispensed with.

From the foregoing it will be seen that, by the employment of aset-serew and one or more levers or other devices, in connection with a string-frame of metal or other material not affected by moisture, the several strings are seldoin liable to beeomeloose, and, when required, may be tightened with extreme facility.

It is also evident that the effect would be similar if the edge b, instead of being inclined, as shown, were placed in the same plane with, or at a right angle to, the frame; but we prefer the inclined arrangement.

We claim- 1. The lever B, with its set-screw i, in combination with the edge I) of the string-frame A, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The lever 13, provided with the sub-levers O D, or either of them, the levers being operated by set-screws, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In combination with the lever B and its set-screw i, the tuning-pin 7:, provided with a projection to prevent it from turning, substantially as described.

Vitness our hands this 21st day of August, A. D. 1874:.

CHARLES E. ROGERS. ALBERT E. MANNING. In presence of- J. \V. S'rEARNs, W. J. CAMBRIDGE. 

